Barrios Recognizes Employees with 3rd Quarter Performance Awards
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER (Houston, TX): Barrios Technology recently presented employees with Silver BEAR (Barrios Employee Award and Recognition) awards. Each recipient was commended for their high level of expertise and outstanding performance supporting Barrios’ contracts with NASA’s International Space Station (ISS) Program. Employees recognized included Jorge Charriez, Eric McKee, Kevin Orr, and Mitch Youts.
Jorge Charriez was presented the Silver Bear Award for his dedication and hard work supporting expedited shipping of NASA Standard Initiators (NSIs) for the CPAS test scheduling in Yuma, Arizona. NSIs are pyrotechnic devices and require special documentation with detailed approvals. Within hours, Charriez single-handedly located and presented paperwork for relevant signatures that were not automated. The integration of the NSIs to the drop test article was critical to the success of the test. Testing at Yuma requires weeks if not months to coordinate with the Yuma Army base and the US Air Force for the C-10 cargo plane that flies in from Edwards AFB to conduct the drop test at 35,000 feet.
Charriez’s contributions saved roughly 100 hours for the project. It also removed the risk of the aircraft potentially being rescheduled for another test window which would have resulted in costing the program thousands for travel and time for the team.
Charriez has developed a continuous professional relationship with Jacobs Engineering, Technology and Science (JETS) contract management and NASA management to know exactly who to approach, even if their availability is limited. His professionalism and good judgement ensured an efficient execution of the property process. This success was in large part due to his knowledge of the job at hand through various experiences over his career.
Eric McKee was presented the Silver BEAR Award for his outstanding contributions to the successful completion of Orion Program milestones related to the Docking System Controller (DSC). McKee is the primary contributor to Avionics milestones and a number of trade studies performed at the request of NASA. He has developed innovative solutions to address trade studies.
Most recently McKee worked with Boeing El Segundo and other stakeholders to coordinate various options for the docking system. His contributions toward the customer’s and Barrios’ successful completion of major milestones and trade studies have been noted and recognized by the NDSB2 program leadership. McKee coordinated the Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs) with Boeing El Segundo, the network TIM with Lockheed Orion, and the weekly Avionics tag-ups with Boeing El Segundo. These studies were accepted by NASA and key space exploration stakeholders.
McKee’s depth and breadth of system knowledge, professionalism, and team rapport have been exemplary. His time management skills have been more than effective as demonstrated by on-time delivery of draft documents and action item closures in the midst of other impromptu requests for information from stakeholders.
Kevin Orr was presented the Silver BEAR Award for his outstanding support to the Gateway Formulation Sync Review (FSR). Leading MAPI systems engineering support for Gateway and providing direct support to the NASA Gateway Requirements Development group, Orr volunteered to develop the Gateway Concept of Operations document which was a key entrance criteria item for the Gateway FSR.
Orr was initially brought into Gateway to develop program-level requirements for the Gateway vehicle. Through his knowledge of systems engineering principles he determined that there needed to be a bridge between the development of Gateway requirements and the Gateway concept of operations. Both of these products are large-scale tasks and were critical to the success of the review. Orr spent many hours outside of normal working hours completing the work necessary to meet the aggressive schedule for delivery of FSR products. He was available for questions and consultation even while on vacation.
Orr’s dedication to the task at hand has led to the NASA customer placing a great deal of trust in him and his work has positioned Barrios for future work on the Gateway program and has led directly to a NASA request for additional MAPI systems engineering support in fiscal year 2019.
Mitch Youts was presented the Silver BEAR Award for his outstanding dedication to the Astronaut Office Multimedia group. Youts applies excellent organization, coordination, and technical skills in providing materials to internal and external customers including International Partners, NatGeo/Fox, Time Magazine, PBS, and personal support to the NASA Astronauts.
Youts spearheaded an effort to streamline a process to provide NASA footage to external customers in a user friendly manner. What was once delivered on borrowed tapes costing up to $150 each with a minimum two-week turn-around is now delivered instantly or in days via Dropbox or on customer provided hard drives of 6K and 8K RED video files allowing Youts to deliver media ahead of deadlines. He used this process to deliver footage to Time Magazine on many occasions, including footage of Astronaut Scott Kelly’s mission. Youts often has to work long, odd hours to process requests and the new process not only reduces cost, but allows for additional editing time.
Youts’ excellent organization skills results in delivering products to outside producers ahead of schedule and often having more relevant footage than originally requested. With foresight and planning, he was able to create new opportunities for outreach for the ISS Program and NASA.
The Barrios Employee Awards and Recognition or BEAR Award recognizes quality performance and outstanding support of customer and company goals. Up to one percent of the current number of employees can receive the Silver Award each quarter. Silver award winners automatically qualify for the annual Gold award which is presented at an annual awards and recognition reception.
Jorge Charriez was presented with a Silver BEAR Award. Pictured from left: Jeff Cline, Director Project Management Barrios Technology; Sandy Johnson, CEO Barrios Technology; Charriez; Robert McAfoos, President Barrios Technology; and Erik Heddles, JETS Program Manager Barrios Technology.
Erik McKee was presented with a Silver BEAR Award. Pictured from left: Jonathan Perez, BETS Program Manager; Robert McAfoos, President Barrios Technology; McKee; Victor Gonzales, Boeing Group Manager; and Jeff Cline, Director Project Management Barrios Technology.
Kevin Orr was presented with a Silver BEAR Award. Pictured from left: Robert McAfoos, President Barrios Technology; Orr; Mark Polansky, MAPI Program Manager, Barrios Technology; and Dane Arnold, MAPI nominator Barrios Technology.
Mitch Youts was presented with a Silver BEAR Award. Pictured from left: Robert McAfoos, President Barrios Technology; Youts; Michele Hendershot, JOIST Project Manager Barrios Technology; Dylan Mathis, International Space Station Communications Manager; and Jeff Cline, Director Project Management Barrios Technology.
About Us:
Headquartered in Houston, Barrios Technology is a woman-owned AS9100 certified engineering services company specializing in aerospace engineering & science, program planning & control, mission integration & operations, and software engineering & integration. Since 1980, Barrios has demonstrated their corporate mission to be the foremost small aerospace engineering services company providing extraordinary value to our customers, employees and communities. For more information on Barrios Technology, please call 281-280-1900 or visit www.barrios.com.